Raphinha Sent Off for Elbowing Opponent, 10-Man Barcelona Held by Getafe in Feisty Clash
Barcelona’s match against Getafe turned into a heated affair as Raphinha was shown a red card for elbowing Getafe defender Gastón Álvarez in the head during an attack in the 42nd minute. Despite playing with 10 men, Barcelona managed to hold on for a draw after Getafe’s Jaime Mata was also sent off in the 57th minute for a foul on Ronald Araujo.
In the dying moments of the game, Barcelona believed they had a penalty kick when Araujo was fouled inside the area. However, video review revealed a handball by Barcelona midfielder Gavi in the buildup, leading to the decision being overturned. Barcelona coach Xavi expressed his frustration, stating that the handball call was unfair.
The match also marked the debut of new Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, who recently joined from Manchester City. Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid, secured a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao, while Atletico Madrid is set to begin their campaign against Granada on Monday.
In another match, Rafa Benítez’s tenure as Celta Vigo’s coach got off to a disappointing start with a 2-0 home loss to Osasuna. Celta struggled to create chances and could only manage one shot on target throughout the game. Rubén García and Moi Goméz scored for Osasuna, who finished seventh last season.
Real Betis secured a late victory against Villarreal, with substitute Willian José scoring in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win. Ayoze Pérez opened the scoring for Betis in the 20th minute, but Villarreal equalized through Jorge Cuenca in the 61st minute. José’s header in the dying moments secured all three points for Betis.
